Supporter.



M. E. BIRD. SUPPORTER. APPLIOATION IILED FEB. a, 1913.

Patented Dec.2,1913.

MARY E. BHRD COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C(LIWASHINGTON. D- C- barren srnrns rarnnr orrron MARY E. BIRD, OF PLYMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

SUPPORTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 8, 1913.

Patented Dec. 2,1913.

Serial No. 745,994.

afflictions or diseases that are peculiar to women, such as prolapsus uteri and many others, the object of the invention being to provide an appliance of the above character which will aiford permanent relief by holding the uterus firmly in place under any straln, thus rendering a surglcal operatlon' unnecessary.

Another object of the inventionis to provide an appliance of the above character which will possess advantages in points of efficiency and durability, is inexpensive of manufacture and at the same time is simple n construction and operation.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features of constructions and the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, pointed out in the claim and shown in the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1, is a side elevation showing the application of my improved appliance. Fig. 2, is a perspective view of the band. Fig. 3, is a detail perspective view of the entire device. Fig. 4, is a detail elevation illustrating the attaching eyes on the corset, and Fig. 5, is a sectional view of the ball.

Referring more particularly to the draw ings, 1 indicates the support, the body of which comprises a receptacle 2 provided atone side with a suitable opening 3. The side edges of said opening being. provided with the buttons 4 and the button holes 5 whereby the same may be readily opened or closed as desired. Arranged within the body 1 is a compressible pad 6 which, as herein disclosed, comprises a suitable cotton body member 6 inclosed by means of a casing 7, although any other material pos sessing inherent expansion may be employed.

Projecting from one end of the body 1 is a supporting strap 8 which is provided at its end with a hook 9 and with an eye 10 at a point removed from the end so that the end can be inserted through the loops formed by the corset string and then fastened down to securely hold one end of the body in position. Extending from the end of the body 1 opposite the strap 8 are the two diverging straps 11 the outer ends of which are provided with the hook members 12 adapted to engage the eyes 13 which are secured, by means of the tabs 14, sewed to 'the front of the body of the corset, to support the body 1 in the posit-ion shown in Fig. l.

Arranged aroundthe body and securely fastened thereto is a sanitary napkin 15. The napkin 15 is secured in position by having the longitudinal edges thereof arranged upon the outer face of the body,

face 16 obviating irritation and chafing of the skin.

A rubber shield 17 is disposed between the napkin and the pad or cushion of the support to prevent the body from becoming saturated with any mucous discharge which might issue from the vagina. It will be understood that the napkin 15 is remo-vably secured to the body so that when the same becomes saturated with the mucous discharge from the vagina, it may be quickly removed and be replaced by a dry one. It will thus be seen that the napkin is to absorb all mucus from the vagina and the shield 17 prevents the pad 6 from becoming saturated. This shield 17 is held securely in place by having the ends thereof sewed as at 18 or otherwise secured to the ends of the body 1.

In combination with my improved support I use a, ball or pessary 19 which is adapted to be inserted into the vagina to support the uterus, said ball or pessary being securely held in position by means of the band. The ball or pessary 19 comprises a central body of yarn or other similar lightweight material as shown at 20. This body of yarn or other similar material is saturated with a coating of paraffin as shown at 21 thus forming a smooth unbroken surface to the ball or pessary so as to obviate any irritation to the wearer. It will be understood that the heat of the body will be suflicient to slightly soften the paraflin coating 21 so that the same will not feel uncomfortable to the wearer.

In the practical operation of my device, the strap 8 is first suspended from the corset string at the back, which attachment will give suiiicient, elasticity to the support. The ball or pessary 19 is then inserted into the vagina and the band passed up between the legs and arranged across the mouth of the vagina, the character of the body 6 permitting the support to automatically accommodate itself to the adjacent parts of the wearer and thereby affording an effective means whereby the pessary is held against ejectment especially by the different pressures that may be created by the human body.

Vaseline should be applied to the outer surface of the ball or pessary before insertion, so that the same may be readily inserted and the Vaseline will have a healing effect upon any previous irritation.

The support is held securely in position by having the hooks 12, which are carried by the ends of the straps l1, engaged with the eyes 13, carried by the corset tabs 14.

It will be apparent that the support may be adjusted by moving the strap upward on the corset lace in the back, while the same is adjusted in front by forming folds (not shown) in the straps l1 and securing them in any suitable manner.

From the above it will be readily ap parent that the ball or pessary 19 may be readily inserted or removed without any inconvenience and will be securely held in position against the uterus to hold the same in position and prevent the falling thereof. It will also be apparent that the device is extremely simple in its construction and can be manufactured ata comparatively low cost.

While I have shown and described the preferred form of my invention, it will be obvious that various changes in the details of constructions and indie proportions may be resorted to for successfully carryin my invention into practice without sacri icing any of the novel features or departing from the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention what is claimed is a In combination with a pessary, a support therefor comprising an elongated body portion of flexible material having its transverse marginal portion folded inwardly to afiord a pocket, the end of such folds being secured to the body, attaching means carried by the ends of thebody, a. compressible pad insertible inthe pocket, a strip of impervious material disposed along the outer face of the body and being secured thereto adjacent its ends, and an absorbent cover wrapped transversely around the body intermediate the length thereof.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

MARY E. BIRD. Witnesses GRAoE E. BIRD, LURLINE M. FLETCHER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

